Topic Contents

Treating Tuberculosis in Children

Topic Overview

Treatment of active
tuberculosis (TB) in children is usually different
from treatment of TB in adults. In children younger than 4 years, TB is more
likely to spread beyond the lungs (extrapulmonary TB). It is also harder to get from children a
sputum sample that grows TB bacteria.footnote 1 So the doctor may assume that a child is infected with the
same type of TB bacteria as the person who most likely infected him or
her.

In general, TB treatment in children usually begins with 3 medicines
instead of 4 because:

The number of bacteria usually is small.

It may be
hard to determine if a child is having vision problems, which can be caused by
ethambutol.

Children with TB usually take isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide
for 2 months. Treatment then continues for at least 4 more months with
isoniazid and rifampin. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) also may be recommended during
TB treatment if the child is not eating a good diet or isn't getting enough
nutrients.
Directly observed therapy (DOT) is usually done to
make sure that the child takes all of the medicine.

Additional medicines taken for a longer time may be needed for
children:

With extrapulmonary TB.

Who are infected with TB
and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Who are infected with TB
bacteria that cannot be killed by 1 or more antibiotics.

A child taking ethambutol to treat a TB infection should have his or
her vision checked every month.

Related Information

References

Citations

American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Society of America (2003). Treatment of tuberculosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 167(4): 603-662.

American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Diseases Society of America (2003). Treatment of tuberculosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 167(4): 603-662.

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